span

When intervals are very small, they can be highly dissonant although they may be represented by small-numbered ratios. When intervals are very large, they may have very low dissonance _and_ consonance. For example, one can play almost any notes together 6 octaves apart on a piano and they won't sound particularly consonant, but they won't clash either. This runs contrary to the idea that consonance and dissonance represent opposite ends of the same spectrum [see sonance - Monzo]. No rigorous adjustment for SPAN was worked out, although normalizing all intervals to the octave between 8/7 and 16/7 is one expedient workaround.

[from Carl Lumma, Onelist Tuning Digest 291, message 5]

---

(to download a zip file of the entire Dictionary, click here)

For many more diagrams and explanations of historical tunings, see my book. If you don't understand my theory or the terms I've used, start here

I welcome feedback about this webpage: corrections, improvements, good links. Let me know if you don't understand something. return to the Microtonal Dictionary index return to my home page return to the Sonic Arts home page